Charles Weasley

Charles “Charlie” Weasley is the second-eldest son of Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley. A skilled Seeker and former Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Charlie is best known for his adventurous spirit and his career as a dragonologist in Romania. Though his physical presence in the series is limited, his expertise with dragons is crucial on several occasions. As a member of the reinstated Order of the Phoenix, he fights bravely in the Second Wizarding War, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to his family and the fight against Lord Voldemort.

Born on 12 December 1972, Charlie grew up at The Burrow with his six siblings. He attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1984 to 1991 and was sorted into Gryffindor house. During his time at school, he was made a Prefect and was a legendary Captain and Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. According to Oliver Wood, the team hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since Charlie left, and he was skilled enough to have played for the England national team if he hadn't chosen to pursue his passion for magical creatures. After graduating from Hogwarts, Charlie moved to Romania to study and work with dragons. In 1992, he assisted Rubeus Hagrid by arranging for several of his friends to smuggle the infant Norwegian Ridgeback, Norbert, out of Hogwarts and transport him to the dragon sanctuary in Romania. In 1994, Charlie returned to Hogwarts as part of the dragon-handling team for the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He helped transport four different dragon species—a Swedish Short-Snout, a Common Welsh Green, a Chinese Fireball, and a Hungarian Horntail—to the school for the champions to face. He expressed concern for Harry Potter and congratulated him after he successfully completed the task. Following Lord Voldemort's return, Charlie joined the revived Order of the Phoenix. His role primarily involved attempting to recruit foreign wizards to their cause. During the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, Charlie arrived with reinforcements alongside Horace Slughorn and was seen battling Death Eaters, including Antonin Dolohov. He survived the battle but mourned the loss of his younger brother, Fred Weasley.

Charlie is described as being shorter and stockier than his brothers Bill, Percy, and Ron. He has a broad, good-natured face, freckles, and the signature red hair of the Weasley family. His work with dragons has left him with a weather-beaten appearance, muscular arms, and a large, shiny burn on one arm. He is brave, adventurous, and kind-hearted. His love for the outdoors and dangerous magical creatures sets him apart from his siblings, some of whom chose more conventional careers at the Ministry of Magic. Hagrid holds him in extremely high regard due to their shared passion for creatures. Charlie is deeply loyal to his family, returning home for important events like the Quidditch World Cup and Bill Weasley's wedding, and fighting to protect the wizarding world.

• Dragonology: Charlie is an expert in the field of dragon care and handling. This profession requires extensive magical knowledge, bravery, and physical resilience.
• Flying: He was a highly proficient flier and an exceptionally talented Quidditch Seeker, whose reputation at Hogwarts was still remembered years after he graduated.
• Dueling: As a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he was a competent duelist who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts.

• Wand: Charlie's first wand was made of ash with a unicorn tail hair core. It was old and damaged, with the hair sticking out of the end. He passed this wand down to his brother Ron Weasley when he started at Hogwarts. It is assumed Charlie purchased a new, more reliable wand for himself upon starting his career.

Charlie maintains a warm relationship with his entire family. He is one of the more easy-going siblings and appears to get along well with everyone. He has a particularly strong connection with his older brother, Bill Weasley, and shares a unique bond with Rubeus Hagrid over their mutual love for formidable magical creatures. He is consistently supportive of Harry Potter, from helping with Norbert to offering encouragement during the Triwizard Tournament.

• The name Charles is of Germanic origin, meaning “free man.” This aligns with Charlie's character, as he chose a free-spirited, adventurous life in the wilds of Romania over a more structured career in Britain.
• Weasley is likely derived from the weasel. J.K. Rowling has noted that weasels have a poor reputation in Britain but that she is fond of them. The family's red hair also connects to the typical colouring of weasels.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Charlie's role is omitted. His lines explaining the dragons for the First Task are given to Barty Crouch Jr. (disguised as Alastor Moody). Charlie is briefly seen in a family photograph in the film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (film)
• In a 2007 interview, J.K. Rowling stated that Charlie never married or had children because he “was more interested in dragons than women.” (J.K. Rowling interview)